Teacher quota problem

Press, 24 November 1979, Page 25

Teacher quota problem

The late announcement of national and district quotas for primary school teacher trainees was causing problems for students awaiting ratification of acceptance, laid a member of the Canterbury Education Board, Mrs N. J. Johnson, at a nesting of the board yesteriay. Students who wanted to teach were faced with waiting for acceptance at the risk of declining other positions whose applications tlosed earlier, she said. Not until November 20 *’as the board told of!

the national quota for primary school teacher trainees. This was 1600, the same as last year. “It is ridiculous that this quota should be announced so late and that a district quota has still not been received,” said Mrs Johnson. Last year both national and district quotas were received by October 13. “As far as we know the quotas are on the desk of the Minister of Finance (Mr Muldoon) awaiting approval,” she said. The department had passed the ball back to the Education • Boards’ Association, saying

the quota was not signed and that they were awaiting word from the association. “This is not accurate and the degree of buck-passing should not be tolerated,” said Mrs Johnson. The board had notified about 80 per cent of last year’s quota for Canterbury, but many had not been told because of the delay in receiving the quota. The delay also meant the board was forced to notify some students of their nonacceptance in the middle of their examinations, said Mrs Johnson.